Archives: Press Release

Drax to showcase best of British renewable energy innovation to global investors

7 October 2021

Press releases
Biomass domes on a sunny day
  • Drax will showcase its multi-billion-pound innovative negative emissions technology, bioenergy with carbon capture and storage (BECCS).
  • Drax recently announced an ambition to source 80% of construction materials and services for BECCS from within the UK.
  • British businesses could benefit from BECCS at Drax with contracts worth hundreds of millions of pounds, creating thousands of jobs, levelling up the North and enabling the UK to build back better in a post Covid world.

Renewable energy giant Drax is one of just a dozen green companies selected to take part in the government’s Global Investment Summit next week.

The event, hosted by the Prime Minister and the Royal Family, will showcase the opportunities for investment in the UK, demonstrating the government’s commitment to building back better following the Covid-19 pandemic and delivering the Ten-Point-Plan set out last year.

Drax will showcase its multi-billion-pound innovative negative emissions technology, bioenergy with carbon capture and storage (BECCS), which permanently removes carbon dioxide from the atmosphere and will be needed for the UK to reach its climate targets cost effectively. BECCS will also play a vital role in decarbonising the UK’s industrial sector as part of the East Coast Cluster.

Will Gardiner, Drax Group CEO, said:

“The UK has a once in a generation opportunity to develop the innovative green technologies which will play a crucial role in tackling the climate crisis. Drax has already transformed itself from the biggest coal fired power station in Western Europe into one of Europe’s lowest carbon utilities and we are now pioneering vital negative emissions technology that will enable us to become the largest carbon capture in power project in the world.

“By leading on the development and introduction of bioenergy with carbon capture and storage (BECCS), the UK can kickstart a new global industry, delivering tens of thousands of jobs and supporting a new green economy. Drax stands ready to invest in this vital technology – work to build BECCS at Drax could get underway as soon as 2024, delivering for the UK economy and the climate.”

Minister for Investment Gerry Grimstone said:

“The Global Investment Summit will put UK innovation on the map and demonstrate how we can use investment to nurture technological developments and propel our economy towards a more prosperous, exciting future.

“Our showcase businesses shows why the UK is a global hub for green technology, and I am proud that Drax will be presenting their innovative bioenergy with carbon capture and storage (BECCS) technology to some of the world’s most high-profile investors at the summit.

“Our industries of the future like renewable energy will not only help ensure a cleaner, greener planet but also create high value jobs in Yorkshire and across the UK.”

As well as deploying BECCS at Drax, the renewable energy company is also exploring opportunities to deploy this vital negative emissions technology internationally, demonstrating climate leadership ahead of COP26 in Glasgow.

 ENDS

Media contacts:

Ben Wicks
Media Manager
E: [email protected]
T: 07761 525 662

Editor’s Notes 

  • Drax will be showcasing its innovative negative emissions technology bioenergy with carbon capture and storage (BECCS) at the Global Investment Summit.
  • BECCS at Drax Power Station will deliver at least 8m tonnes of negative emissions a year – equivalent to 15% of the negative emissions the CCC says are required from BECCS in 2050 to hit the UK net zero target.
  • This multi-billion-pound project will also protect and create over 10,000 jobs across the Humber, decarbonising one of the UK’s most carbon intensive regions, whilst developing green skills and kickstarting new industries.
  • Drax aims for 80% of the materials and services needed for its BECCS plans to come from UK supply chain. This does not include the carbon capture technology to be delivered by Drax’s technology partner Mitsubishi Heavy Industries.
  • Leading climate scientists at the UN’s IPCC and UK Climate Change Committee have said that the world cannot address the climate crisis without negative emissions from technologies like BECCS, which permanently remove carbon dioxide from the atmosphere.
  • Work to build BECCS at Drax could get underway as soon as 2024, with the creation of thousands of jobs.
  • Subject to the right regulatory support, the first BECCS unit could be operational in 2027, with the second commissioned in 2030, enabling Drax to achieve its world-leading ambition to be a carbon negative company by 2030.
  • BECCS at Drax will save the UK £13 billion over the coming decade in meeting its climate goals according to an independent report by energy consultancy Baringa.

About Drax

Drax Group’s purpose is to enable a zero carbon, lower cost energy future and in 2019 announced a world-leading ambition to be carbon negative by 2030, using Bioenergy with Carbon Capture and Storage (BECCS) technology.

Its 3,400 employees operate across three principal areas of activity – electricity generation, electricity sales to business customers and compressed wood pellet production and supply to third parties.

For more information visit www.drax.com

Power generation:

Drax owns and operates a portfolio of renewable electricity generation assets in England and Scotland. The assets include the UK’s largest power station, based at Selby, North Yorkshire, which supplies five percent of the country’s electricity needs.

Having converted Drax Power Station to use sustainable biomass instead of coal it has become the UK’s biggest renewable power generator and the largest decarbonisation project in Europe. It is also where Drax is piloting the groundbreaking negative emissions technology BECCS within its CCUS (Carbon Capture Utilisation and Storage) Incubation Area.

Its pumped storage, hydro and energy from waste assets in Scotland include Cruachan Power Station – a flexible pumped storage facility within the hollowed-out mountain Ben Cruachan.

Pellet production and supply:

Drax owns and has interests in 17 pellet mills in the US South and Western Canada which have the capacity to manufacture 4.9 million tonnes of compressed wood pellets (biomass) a year. The pellets are produced using materials sourced from sustainably managed working forests and are supplied to third party customers in Europe and Asia for the generation of renewable power.

Drax’s pellet mills supply around 30% of the biomass used at its own power station in North Yorkshire, England to generate flexible, renewable power for the UK’s homes and businesses.

Customers: 

Drax is the largest supplier of renewable electricity to UK businesses, supplying 100% renewable electricity as standard to more than 370,000 sites through Drax and Opus Energy.

It offers a range of energy-related services including energy optimisation, as well as electric vehicle strategy and management.

To find out more go to the website www.energy.drax.com

Drax Biomass supports Hurricane Ida relief efforts

5 October 2021

Press releases

The funds and supplies are going to hurricane relief efforts driven by United Way of Northeast Louisiana (NELA) as part of their ‘Embrace Louisiana’ relief project.

Drax Biomass has recently been awarded ‘Pacesetter’ status by United Way NELA, which recognizes the company as a leader in the community to set the pace for other employee campaigns in the region.

This campaign encourages companies and their employees to give back by volunteering or donating to their communities. Drax Biomass showed a 17% increase in employee donations from their most recent campaign.

Executive Vice President of Drax’s Pellet Operations Matt White said:

“It’s a privilege to be able to work with United Way which has been here for the Northeast Louisiana community through countless disasters this year alone, supporting the wellbeing of so many people.

“Hurricane Ida has been devastating to many communities in the region. It’s important to support the people in the areas where we operate. That’s why we donated $5,000 to help local relief efforts. Our thoughts are with everyone affected by the hurricane.”

Janet Durden, United Way of Northeast Louisiana President:

“We are so grateful for the incredible partnership between Drax and United Way of Northeast Louisiana. Regardless of the issue our community is facing Drax responds immediately and very generously. We are thankful for their generosity and commitment to service, both during times of disaster and year-round.

“The exceptional increase in employee giving at Drax certainly ‘sets the pace’ and will surely inspire other workplace partners to step up for our community through their Workplace Campaigns.”

In the past 12 months, Drax has supported families in Northeast and Central Louisiana who were impacted by Hurricane Laura and donated $20,000 to help rebuild the public pavilion in the town of Olla and to repair the roof of Urania’s recreational hall following the storm.

Photo caption: Supplies for hurricane evacuees as part of hurricane relief efforts co-ordinated by United Way of Northeast Louisiana. Credit: United Way of Northeast Louisiana

ENDS

 

Media contacts:

Annmarie Sartor
Drax Biomass Communications Officer
E: [email protected]
T: +1 318-801-0046

Selina Williams
Drax Group Media Manager
E: [email protected]
T: +44 7912 230393

Editor’s Notes

Headquartered in Monroe, LA, with operations in the Southeastern U.S., Drax Biomass is committed to supporting the communities in which it operates by promoting sustainable forestry and investing in local economic development. It is part of British energy company Drax Group.

Drax Biomass produces sustainable compressed wood pellets, which are shipped to Drax Power Station in England and used to generate renewable electricity for millions of UK homes and businesses.

Around two thirds of the sustainable biomass Drax uses each year comes from the US, where Drax owns and operates three pellet plants producing compressed wood pellets sourced from sustainably managed working forests in Louisiana, Arkansas and Mississippi.

The plants also deliver economic growth and jobs in the US south.

About Drax

Drax Group’s purpose is to enable a zero carbon, lower cost energy future and in 2019 announced a world-leading ambition to be carbon negative by 2030, using Bioenergy with Carbon Capture and Storage (BECCS) technology.

Its 3,400 employees operate across three principal areas of activity – electricity generation, electricity sales to business customers and compressed wood pellet production and supply to third parties.

For more information visit www.drax.com

Power generation:

Drax owns and operates a portfolio of renewable electricity generation assets in England and Scotland. The assets include the UK’s largest power station, based at Selby, North Yorkshire, which supplies five percent of the country’s electricity needs.

Having converted Drax Power Station to use sustainable biomass instead of coal it has become the UK’s biggest renewable power generator and the largest decarbonisation project in Europe. It is also where Drax is piloting the groundbreaking negative emissions technology BECCS within its CCUS (Carbon Capture Utilisation and Storage) Incubation Area.

Its pumped storage, hydro and energy from waste assets in Scotland include Cruachan Power Station – a flexible pumped storage facility within the hollowed-out mountain Ben Cruachan.

Pellet production and supply:

Drax owns and has interests in 17 pellet mills in the US South and Western Canada which have the capacity to manufacture 4.9 million tonnes of compressed wood pellets (biomass) a year. The pellets are produced using materials sourced from sustainably managed working forests and are supplied to third party customers in Europe and Asia for the generation of renewable power.

Drax’s pellet mills supply around 30% of the biomass used at its own power station in North Yorkshire, England to generate flexible, renewable power for the UK’s homes and businesses.

Customers: 

Drax is the largest supplier of renewable electricity to UK businesses, supplying 100% renewable electricity as standard to more than 370,000 sites through Drax and Opus Energy.

It offers a range of energy-related services including energy optimisation, as well as electric vehicle strategy and management.

To find out more go to the website www.energy.drax.com

Drax announces 80% British supply chain ambition to support construction of world’s largest carbon capture project

23 September 2021

Press releases
Engineers in front of biomass domes
  • BECCS at Drax could mean British companies benefit from supply contracts worth hundreds of millions of pounds, protecting and creating over 10,000 jobs across the Humber, developing green skills, and helping level up the North.
  • Announcement made as Drax launches series of nationwide supplier events for UK businesses to get involved in delivering this vital multi-billion-pound project in the 2020s.

Renewable energy company Drax has announced that it aims to source 80% of the construction materials and services needed to deliver its climate saving negative emissions technology bioenergy with carbon capture and storage (BECCS) from the UK supply chain.

The 80% ambition includes all construction materials needed as part of the deployment of the multi-billion-pound project such as steel, pipes, heat pumps, electricals, and insulation, as well as the support services involved in delivering such a large project.

In doing so, BECCS at Drax has the potential to deliver hundreds of millions of pounds worth of contracts for British businesses. As well as this, BECCS will protect and create over 10,000 jobs across the Humber, decarbonising one of the UK’s most carbon intensive regions  as part of the East Coast Cluster, whilst developing green skills, kickstarting new industries and helping level up the North.

Will Gardiner, Drax Group CEO, said:

“BECCS will play a vital role in enabling the UK to reach its legally binding net zero target, as well as saving the energy system billions of pounds in the process.

“Our ambition is to put the UK supply chain at the heart of delivering this crucial climate saving technology and by doing so we’ll create and protect thousands of new jobs, kickstart new industries and help level up the UK.”

The announcement comes as Drax launches the first in a series of nationwide supplier events. Run in partnership with the West & North Yorkshire and Hull & Humber Chambers of Commerce, and organised by business support organisation NOF, the event series will enable new and prospective suppliers to learn more about the BECCS project, as well as how they can be involved in delivering this vital negative emissions technology.

Drax has a proven track record in delivering ambitious and pioneering infrastructure projects – the conversion of its power station in North Yorkshire to use sustainable biomass instead of coal has enabled it to become the UK’s largest single site renewable generator, reducing its emissions by over 90% and paving the way for the deployment of BECCS.

A formal public consultation on Drax’s BECCS plans will take place in November, when stakeholders including local communities will be able to learn more about the proposed project and provide their feedback as part of the planning process.

Work to build BECCS at Drax could get underway as soon as 2024, with the first BECCS unit operational in 2027 and a second in 2030, delivering the world’s largest carbon capture in power project and making a signification contribution to the UK’s decarbonisation targets.

Businesses interested in finding out more about Drax’s plans and attending its nationwide supplier event series, taking place throughout 2022, can email [email protected].

ENDS

Media contacts

Ben Wicks
Drax Group Media Manager
E: [email protected]
T: 07761 525 662

 

Editor’s Notes

  • 80% domestic supply chain figure includes materials and services to be used within the construction for Drax’s BECCS project, however, this does not include the carbon capture technology to be delivered by Drax’s technology partner Mitsubishi Heavy Industries.
  • Leading climate scientists at the UN’s IPCC and UK Climate Change Committee have said that the world cannot address the climate crisis without negative emissions from technologies like BECCS, which permanently remove carbon dioxide from the atmosphere.
  • Work to build BECCS at Drax could get underway as soon as 2024, with the creation of thousands of jobs.
  • Subject to the right regulatory support, the first BECCS unit could be operational in 2027, with the second commissioned in 2030, enabling Drax to achieve its world-leading ambition to be a carbon negative company by 2030.
  • Analysis by Baringa shows BECCS at Drax will save the UK £13bn in achieving the government’s legally binding fifth Carbon Budget.

About Drax

Drax Group’s purpose is to enable a zero carbon, lower cost energy future and in 2019 announced a world-leading ambition to be carbon negative by 2030, using Bioenergy with Carbon Capture and Storage (BECCS) technology.

Its 3,400 employees operate across three principal areas of activity – electricity generation, electricity sales to business customers and compressed wood pellet production and supply to third parties.

Power generation

Drax owns and operates a portfolio of renewable electricity generation assets in England and Scotland. The assets include the UK’s largest power station, based at Selby, North Yorkshire, which supplies five percent of the country’s electricity needs.

Having converted Drax Power Station to use sustainable biomass instead of coal it has become the UK’s biggest renewable power generator and the largest decarbonisation project in Europe. It is also where Drax is piloting the groundbreaking negative emissions technology BECCS within its CCUS (Carbon Capture Utilisation and Storage) Incubation Area.

Its pumped storage, hydro and energy from waste assets in Scotland include Cruachan Power Station – a flexible pumped storage facility within the hollowed-out mountain Ben Cruachan.

Pellet production and supply

Drax owns and has interests in 17 pellet mills in the US South and Western Canada which have the capacity to manufacture 4.9 million tonnes of compressed wood pellets (biomass) a year. The pellets are produced using materials sourced from sustainably managed working forests and are supplied to third party customers in Europe and Asia for the generation of renewable power.

Drax’s pellet mills supply around 30% of the biomass used at its own power station in North Yorkshire, England to generate flexible, renewable power for the UK’s homes and businesses.

Customers

Drax is the largest supplier of renewable electricity to UK businesses, supplying 100% renewable electricity as standard to more than 370,000 sites through Drax and Opus Energy.

It offers a range of energy-related services including energy optimisation, as well as electric vehicle strategy and management.

To find out more go to the website www.energy.drax.com

Drax and NFU partner to boost UK energy crop market

20 September 2021

Press releases
Drax Power Station

NFU logoWorld leader in sustainable bioenergy Drax Group has teamed up with the National Farmers Union of England and Wales (NFU), to identify opportunities to scale up perennial energy crop production and help the UK meet its ambitious climate goals.

The Climate Change Committee (CCC) has previously stated that if the UK is to meet its decarbonisation objectives, a substantial area of energy crops must be planted each year to deliver the low carbon, renewable fuel required over the coming decades.

Through the partnership announced today, Drax and the NFU plan to develop a roadmap for boosting the market in perennial energy crops, identifying how they can be used sustainably.

The programme of work will help to provide insights into important diversification opportunities for UK farming businesses as they adapt to new agricultural policies and will seek to identify new revenue streams that may include utilising marginal land unsuitable for food crops, as well as delivering meaningful climate action.

It will also support Drax’s ambition for British farmers to supply some of the biomass needed for its plans to develop the vital negative emissions technology bioenergy with carbon capture and storage (BECCS).

The partnership demonstrates clear intent from the bioenergy and agricultural sectors to accelerate the delivery of negative emissions in the UK following calls to action this summer from the UN’s IPCC, the National Infrastructure Commission, and the Coalition for Negative Emissions.

Drax Group’s Chief Innovation Officer, Jason Shipstone, said:

“If we can source some of Drax’s sustainable biomass for our BECCS units from domestically grown energy crops, we could further reduce our supply chain emissions at the same time as stimulating innovation within British farming.

“By encouraging British farmers to plant energy crops here in the UK, the agricultural sector can join the bioenergy industry, and support national efforts to address the climate crisis, driving down emissions and building back greener.”

NFU Deputy President Stuart Roberts said:

“There is a huge opportunity for the growth of perennial energy crops in the UK, with large areas of suitable land potentially available for diversification into the growing of sustainable biomass for renewable energy generation. This would support the UK’s decarbonisation plans as well as our own agricultural net zero ambition, alongside continuing to provide quality, affordable and climate-friendly food for the nation.

“By working with Drax Group, we can unlock this potential and ensure our farmers are ready to take advantage of the opportunity energy crops create, one which will provide a boost to both farm businesses and the UK’s climate credentials. It’s exciting that the carbon dioxide captured by the crops grown by UK farmers for Drax would be permanently removed from the atmosphere.”

The partnership follows an announcement last month from the Government which outlined the provision of £4 million in funding to increase British biomass production for green energy through the Biomass Feedstocks Innovation Programme.

Drax Group, which has converted Drax Power Station in North Yorkshire to use sustainable biomass instead of coal to become the UK’s largest single site renewable generator, plans to deploy the essential negative emissions technology BECCS in the 2020s. This has the potential to create the world’s largest carbon capture power project and deliver a significant proportion of the negative emissions needed for the UK to meet its climate targets.

By using BECCS, Drax could permanently remove eight million tonnes of carbon dioxide from the atmosphere each year by 2030, becoming a carbon negative company. The energy crops grown by UK farmers would support this ambition.

ENDS

Picture caption: A Terra Vesta Miscanthus field located by Drax Power Station.

Editor’s Notes

  • The Climate Change Committee has recommended expanding UK energy crop planting to around 23,000 hectares each year by 2030 to support the government’s net zero target
  • Energy crops are typically densely planted, high yielding crop species grown solely for energy production. The crops are processed into solid, liquid or gaseous fuels, such as pellets, bioethanol or biogas and are then used to generate electrical power or heat.
  • Energy crops include perennials such as miscanthus and short rotation coppice willow, which are grown with very low levels of inputs and management compared with conventional agricultural land use.
  • Leading climate scientists at the UN’s IPCC and UK Climate Change Committee have said that the world cannot address the climate crisis without negative emissions from technologies like BECCS, which permanently remove carbon dioxide from the atmosphere.
  • In August the UK government announced £4 million in funding to increase British biomass production for green energy through the Biomass Feedstocks Innovation Programme
  • Drax has started the planning application process for two BECCS units.
  • Work to build BECCS at Drax could get underway as soon as 2024, with the creation of thousands of jobs.
  • Subject to the right regulatory support, the first BECCS unit could be operational in 2027, with the second commissioned in 2030, enabling Drax to achieve its world-leading ambition to be a carbon negative company by 2030.
  • Drax has already delivered carbon reductions of more than 90% in its generation business as a result of using sustainable biomass instead of coal at its power station in North Yorkshire, making it one of Europe’s lowest carbon electricity generators.
  • Planting and growing perennial energy crops would need to start several years in advance of commissioning the first BECCS unit, in order to grow the supply chain progressively over several agricultural seasons.
  • The NFU has an ambition for British agriculture to be net zero by 2040.
  • Both Drax and the NFU are founding members of the Coalition for Negative Emissions, a member organisation promoting the growth of the negative emissions solutions to the scale required to deliver global climate targets.

Media contacts

Jo Rector
Media Adviser
E: [email protected]
T: 07551 155625

Ben Wicks
Media Manager
E: [email protected]
T: 07761 525662

 

About NFU

The NFU is the voice of British farming and provides professional representation and services to its 55,000 farmer and grower members.

About Drax

Drax Group’s purpose is to enable a zero carbon, lower cost energy future and in 2019 announced a world-leading ambition to be carbon negative by 2030, using Bioenergy with Carbon Capture and Storage (BECCS) technology.

Its 3,400 employees operate across three principal areas of activity – electricity generation, electricity sales to business customers and compressed wood pellet production and supply to third parties.

Power generation

Drax owns and operates a portfolio of renewable electricity generation assets in England and Scotland. The assets include the UK’s largest power station, based at Selby, North Yorkshire, which supplies five percent of the country’s electricity needs.

Having converted Drax Power Station to use sustainable biomass instead of coal it has become the UK’s biggest renewable power generator and the largest decarbonisation project in Europe. It is also where Drax is piloting the groundbreaking negative emissions technology BECCS within its CCUS (Carbon Capture Utilisation and Storage) Incubation Area.

Its pumped storage, hydro and energy from waste assets in Scotland include Cruachan Power Station – a flexible pumped storage facility within the hollowed-out mountain Ben Cruachan.

Pellet production and supply

Drax owns and has interests in 17 pellet mills in the US South and Western Canada which have the capacity to manufacture 4.9 million tonnes of compressed wood pellets (biomass) a year. The pellets are produced using materials sourced from sustainably managed working forests and are supplied to third party customers in Europe and Asia for the generation of renewable power.

Drax’s pellet mills supply around 20% of the biomass used at its own power station in North Yorkshire, England to generate flexible, renewable power for the UK’s homes and businesses.

Customers  

Drax is the largest supplier of renewable electricity to UK businesses – with Opus Energy, its separate energy supply brand for SME businesses, it supplies 100% renewable electricity as standard to more than 370,000 sites.

It offers a range of energy-related services including energy optimisation, as well as electric vehicle strategy and management.

For more information visit www.energy.drax.com.

Leading B2B renewable energy supplier changes its name to Drax

14 September 2021

Press releases
  • The name change marks the next step in the renewable energy supplier’s journey to help businesses and organisations become more sustainable, supporting the UK’s climate goals
  • The rebrand follows the launch of Drax Electric Vehicles and Drax Electric Assets and aims to offer a partnership approach for customers, supporting the UK’s journey to net zero

B2B renewable energy supplier Haven Power is changing its name to Drax, to deliver the products and services businesses and organisations need in order to support UK efforts to reach net zero.

Haven Power was acquired by Drax Group in 2009 and supplies more than 20,000 large industrial and commercial customers with over 12TWh of renewable sourced electricity each year – the equivalent annual power use of more than three million homes.

Drax office rebrandWith the rebrand, Drax aims to partner with its business customers to support them in achieving their sustainability goals, delivering innovative solutions which help them optimise their energy use, reduce carbon emissions, and minimise costs.

The name change follows the launch of Drax Electric Vehicles, and Drax Electric Assets, which help businesses take control of their energy use through the electrification of their fleets and the optimisation of their operations.

Paul Sheffield, Managing Director of Drax’s supply businesses, said:

“Drax has an impressive track record in sustainability – we’ve reduced Drax Group’s carbon footprint by more than 90% in less than a decade.

“By more closely aligning our supply business to Drax, we can better support businesses and organisations with their own net zero ambitions using Drax’s scale, knowledge and expertise in decarbonisation. It also demonstrates our commitment to enabling a zero carbon, lower cost energy future for our customers.”

Drax plans to deploy vital negative emissions technology, bioenergy with carbon capture and storage (BECCS), at its power station in North Yorkshire. This will permanently remove eight million tonnes of carbon dioxide from the atmosphere each year by 2030.

With the creation of a voluntary carbon market, business customers could purchase the permanent and verifiable negative emissions from Drax, helping difficult to decarbonise industries offset their own emissions. This supports efforts to decarbonise the UK’s economy, protects jobs, and demonstrate climate leadership.

To find out more about the products and services available from Drax for businesses go to the website energy.drax.com

ENDS

Media contacts

Ben Wicks
Media Manager
E: [email protected]
T: 0776 1525 662

Notes to editors

Drax is the largest supplier of renewable electricity to UK businesses Supplying 100% renewable electricity as standard to more than 370,000 sites through Drax and Opus Energy.

It offers a range of energy-related services including energy optimisation, as well as electric vehicle strategy and management.

For more information visit energy.drax.com.

About Drax

Drax Group’s purpose is to enable a zero carbon, lower cost energy future and in 2019 announced a world-leading ambition to be carbon negative by 2030, using Bioenergy with Carbon Capture and Storage (BECCS) technology.

Its 3,400 employees operate across three principal areas of activity – electricity generation, electricity sales to business customers and compressed wood pellet production and supply to third parties.

Drax is already the largest decarbonisation project in Europe following the conversion of Drax Power Station in North Yorkshire to use sustainable biomass instead of coal. The company now plans to go further and become carbon negative by 2030 by deploying the vital negative emissions technology, bioenergy with carbon capture and storage, which will capture and permanently lock away more than 8Mt of CO2 per year.

Power generation

Drax owns and operates a portfolio of renewable electricity generation assets in England and Scotland. The assets include the UK’s largest power station, based at Selby, North Yorkshire, which supplies five percent of the country’s electricity needs.

Having converted Drax Power Station to use sustainable biomass instead of coal it has become the UK’s biggest renewable power generator and the largest decarbonisation project in Europe. It is also where Drax is piloting the groundbreaking negative emissions technology BECCS within its CCUS (Carbon Capture Utilisation and Storage) Incubation Area.

Its pumped storage, hydro and energy from waste assets in Scotland include Cruachan Power Station – a flexible pumped storage facility within the hollowed-out mountain Ben Cruachan.

Pellet production and supply

Drax owns and has interests in 17 pellet mills in the US South and Western Canada which have the capacity to manufacture 4.9 million tonnes of compressed wood pellets (biomass) a year. The pellets are produced using materials sourced from sustainably managed working forests and are supplied to third party customers in Europe and Asia for the generation of renewable power.

Drax’s pellet mills supply around 30% of the biomass used at its own power station in North Yorkshire, England to generate flexible, renewable power for the UK’s homes and businesses.

Drax calls for UK supply chain to deliver climate saving negative emissions technology

9 September 2021

Press releases
  • New programme of nationwide events will encourage British businesses to work with renewable energy pioneer Drax to deliver its multi-billion-pound climate-saving negative emissions technology – bioenergy with carbon capture and storage (BECCS).
  • Events series marks a crucial step on Drax’s journey to deliver this pioneering technology in the 2020s.
  • Event launch comes as Drax prepares to start a major public consultation on its BECCS plans in November, offering stakeholders and communities the chance to learn more about the project.

Decarbonise. Revitalise.The company will be hosting a series of nationwide events throughout 2022 in partnership with the West & North Yorkshire and Hull & Humber Chambers of Commerce, as well as further events across the wider North, Midlands and South of England. These will enable Drax to identify a robust supply chain for BECCS, ensuring the project can be accelerated as soon as planning approval is received.

The event series will start with an introductory webinar on Thursday September 23, 2021, run with business support organisation NOF. The initial event will give new and prospective suppliers the opportunity to learn more about the BECCS project, as well as how they can be involved in delivering this vital negative emissions technology.

Graham Backhouse, Drax’s Commercial Director for the BECCS project, said:

“Negative emissions technologies like BECCS will play a vital role in enabling the UK to reach its net zero goals. At its peak, BECCS at Drax will protect and create over 10,000 jobs, levelling up the north, and positioning the UK as a global leader in this climate-saving technology.

“This programme of events is a fantastic opportunity for businesses of all sizes to get involved and learn more about the project, and we want to encourage a range of companies from across the country to take part.”

Drax has a proven track record in delivering ambitious and pioneering infrastructure projects – the conversion of its power station in North Yorkshire to use sustainable biomass instead of coal has enabled it to become the UK’s largest single site renewable generator, reducing its emissions by over 90% and paving the way for the deployment of BECCS.

The event takes place ahead of a formal public consultation on Drax’s BECCS plans in November, when stakeholders including local communities will be able to learn more about the proposed project and provide their feedback.

Businesses which are interested in attending the introductory supplier event webinar on September 23, or the event series more generally and how they can be involved, can register their interest via www.drax.com/supplierevent.

ENDS

Media contacts:

Ben Wicks
Media Manager
E: [email protected]
T: 07761 525 662

Editor’s Notes

  • Leading climate scientists at the UN’s IPCC and UK Climate Change Committee have said that the world cannot address the climate crisis without negative emissions from technologies like BECCS, which permanently remove carbon dioxide from the atmosphere.
  • Work to build BECCS at Drax could get underway as soon as 2024, with the creation of thousands of jobs.
  • Subject to the right regulatory support, the first BECCS unit could be operational in 2027, with the second commissioned in 2030, enabling Drax to achieve its world-leading ambition to be a carbon negative company by 2030.

About Drax

Drax Group’s purpose is to enable a zero carbon, lower cost energy future and in 2019 announced a world-leading ambition to be carbon negative by 2030, using Bioenergy with Carbon Capture and Storage (BECCS) technology.

Its 3,400 employees operate across three principal areas of activity – electricity generation, electricity sales to business customers and compressed wood pellet production and supply to third parties.

Power generation:

Drax owns and operates a portfolio of renewable electricity generation assets in England and Scotland. The assets include the UK’s largest power station, based at Selby, North Yorkshire, which supplies five percent of the country’s electricity needs.

Having converted Drax Power Station to use sustainable biomass instead of coal it has become the UK’s biggest renewable power generator and the largest decarbonisation project in Europe. It is also where Drax is piloting the groundbreaking negative emissions technology BECCS within its CCUS (Carbon Capture Utilisation and Storage) Incubation Area.

Its pumped storage, hydro and energy from waste assets in Scotland include Cruachan Power Station – a flexible pumped storage facility within the hollowed-out mountain Ben Cruachan.

Pellet production and supply:

Drax owns and has interests in 17 pellet mills in the US South and Western Canada which have the capacity to manufacture 4.9 million tonnes of compressed wood pellets (biomass) a year. The pellets are produced using materials sourced from sustainably managed working forests and are supplied to third party customers in Europe and Asia for the generation of renewable power.

Drax’s pellet mills supply around 30% of the biomass used at its own power station in North Yorkshire, England to generate flexible, renewable power for the UK’s homes and businesses.

Customers: 

Through its two B2B energy supply brands, Haven Power and Opus Energy, Drax supplies energy to 250,000 businesses across Britain.

For more information visit www.drax.com 

About NOF

NOF are business development experts for the energy sector. The organisation works on behalf of members and wider supply chain to put companies of all sizes in touch with the best and most innovative supply chain businesses in the UK.

Our services include: Business development, Industry introductions and events

NOF works with major businesses in the energy sector as a valuable supply chain partner connecting companies to projects

www.nof.co.uk

‘Renewable energy apprentices’ kickstart careers at Drax

25 August 2021

Press releases

Pic caption: L-R: Poppy Johnson-Roberts, Chloe Wrightham, Lewis White, Drax Group Operations Director Mike Maudsley, Plant Director Bruce Heppenstall, Daniel Penistone, Sam Easthill, Dylan Hall Parkes and Patrick Harpham

Renewable energy company Drax is welcoming seven apprentice engineers as part of its efforts to create career development opportunities in the North and ensure it has the best in-house talent to support its ambitious decarbonisation plans.

The apprentice engineers have won places on the technical apprenticeship scheme at Drax Power Station near Selby in North Yorkshire – the UK’s largest single site renewable power generator, which produces enough renewable electricity for four million homes.

The four-year programme gives new recruits the opportunity to gain expertise working alongside the world-class engineers at Britain’s biggest power station which has become one of Europe’s largest decarbonisation projects following its conversion from coal to using sustainable wood pellets.

Mike Maudsley, Drax Group’s UK Portfolio Generation Director said:

“I started my career as an apprentice and meeting our new renewable energy apprentices is one of the highlights of my job. Providing these young people with the tools needed to become the skilled workforce of the future is not only essential to the success of our business, it’s also an incredibly rewarding part of what we do.

“Giving our apprentices the opportunity to work on the cutting-edge, environmental technologies of the future will ensure we’re nurturing our in-house talent and creating opportunities for people here in the North to lead the green energy revolution needed to get the UK to net zero, supporting a post-covid economic recovery.”

Patrick Harpham, aged 19 from Selby, who has joined Drax as a mechanical apprentice, said:

“I’m really pleased to have the opportunity to be part of the new intake of apprentices at Drax and proud to be starting my career with a company that is so committed to tackling global climate change. I’m also very proud to be following in the footsteps of my great grandfather and grandad, both of whom spent much of their careers at the power station. This family history is what has always inspired me to want to become an engineer.”

Mechanical apprentice Poppy Johnson-Roberts, aged 18 from Cleethorpes, said:

“I chose to apply for an apprenticeship with Drax because it is an innovative company which is always developing and looking to the future. I also feel like it’s a great opportunity for me and will open up so many potential career pathways as Drax is committed to helping young people develop their skills.”

The apprentices beginning their careers at Drax Power Station this year are:

  • Chloe Wrightham,18, from Grimsby
  • Daniel Penistone, 17, from Selby
  • Dylan Hall Parkes,18, from Doncaster
  • Lewis White, 23, from Grimsby
  • Patrick Harpham, 19, from Selby
  • Poppy Johnson-Roberts, 18, from Cleethorpes
  • Sam Easthill, 21, from Cliffe, near Selby.

L-R: Daniel Penistone, Chloe Wrightham, Poppy Johnson-Roberts, Drax Group Operations Director Mike Maudsley, Plant Director Bruce Heppenstall, Sam Easthill, Lewis White, Dylan Hall Parkes and Patrick Harpham

They will be trained within the maintenance department of the power station, with three of them in mechanical roles and four working alongside the electrical and instrumentation team.

Drax plans to become carbon negative by 2030 by using bioenergy with carbon capture and storage (BECCS) which it aims to start developing at the power station as soon as 2024 with the creation of thousands of jobs.

The first BECCS unit would be operational in 2027 with a second in 2030, permanently removing a total of eight million tonnes of carbon dioxide from the atmosphere each year, making a significant contribution to the UK’s efforts to address the climate crisis, whilst generating the renewable electricity the country needs.

ENDS

Media contacts:

Aidan Kerr

Media Manager

E: [email protected]

T: 07849090368

Megan Hopgood

Media and PR Intern

E: [email protected]

T: 07936350175

Editor’s Notes

The apprentices will start work on-site at Drax once they have completed formal training at the Humberside Engineering Training Association.

Drax offers apprenticeships in business support areas as well as engineering disciplines and is in the process of recruiting two cyber security and two facilities apprentices who will start work in October. All opportunities are advertised on the Drax website.

Drax has been running an apprenticeship scheme at its North Yorkshire power station for almost two decades and also runs several internships and graduate schemes as part of its dedication to improving skills and increasing opportunities for young people across the region.

The energy company is also committed to helping its existing employees to boost their skills to ensure they are ready to work on new green technologies liked BECCS. Around 80 employees across the group are studying for apprenticeship qualifications.

Throughout the Covid pandemic Drax has continued to invest in young people and supported its communities through several initiatives, including:

About Drax

Drax Group’s purpose is to enable a zero carbon, lower cost energy future and in 2019 announced a world-leading ambition to be carbon negative by 2030, using Bioenergy with Carbon Capture and Storage (BECCS) technology.

Its 3,400 employees operate across three principal areas of activity – electricity generation, electricity sales to business customers and compressed wood pellet production and supply to third parties.

Power generation:

Drax owns and operates a portfolio of renewable electricity generation assets in England and Scotland. The assets include the UK’s largest power station, based at Selby, North Yorkshire, which supplies five percent of the country’s electricity needs.

Having converted Drax Power Station to use sustainable biomass instead of coal it has become the UK’s biggest renewable power generator and the largest decarbonisation project in Europe. It is also where Drax is piloting the groundbreaking negative emissions technology BECCS within its CCUS (Carbon Capture Utilisation and Storage) Incubation Area.

Its pumped storage, hydro and energy from waste assets in Scotland include Cruachan Power Station – a flexible pumped storage facility within the hollowed-out mountain Ben Cruachan.

Pellet production and supply:
Drax owns and has interests in 17 pellet mills in the US South and Western Canada which have the capacity to manufacture 4.9 million tonnes of compressed wood pellets (biomass) a year. The pellets are produced using materials sourced from sustainably managed working forests and are supplied to third party customers in Europe and Asia for the generation of renewable power.

Drax’s pellet mills supply around 30% of the biomass used at its own power station in North Yorkshire, England to generate flexible, renewable power for the UK’s homes and businesses.

Customers: 

Through its two B2B energy supply brands, Haven Power and Opus Energy, Drax supplies energy to 250,000 businesses across Britain.

For more information visit www.drax.com

Drax expands virtual work experience programme to boost employability for even more young people

16 August 2021

Press releases
  • Drax Group is offering students a virtual insight into the world of work as part of the energy company’s continued commitment to STEM education, supporting its efforts to increase social mobility for one million people.
  • The programme, which is running online this week from 16-20 August, has been extended from four to five days and made available to a wider audience.
  • After the success of the first virtual work experience week in April, the energy company has decided to run additional events to give even more students the opportunity to take part.

Britain’s biggest power station, near Selby in North Yorkshire, has expanded its virtual work experience programme to offer even more young people insights into the workplace and boost employability and skills.

The energy company first launched virtual work experience as a result of not being able to run its usual on-site work experience programmes due to Covid restrictions, and has decided to continue the programme after receiving a positive response from those who took part.

Engineering student Tahmid Md, who took part in the previous virtual work experience programme, said:

“Work experience at Drax was a great week and I learnt a lot from the programme. The CV building and interview sessions were especially helpful, and I really enjoyed the engineering projects I took part in.”

Drax colleagues have put together a five-day online programme which enables more students to participate from across England, who may previously have found it difficult to take part, due to barriers preventing their attendance, such as geography, opportunity, and economic factors.

The work experience programme is part of Drax’s Mobilising a Million initiative, which aims to increase social mobility by creating opportunities to further education and improve employability, ensuring the country has the skilled workforce needed to support a post-covid, green economic recovery.

Drax Group’s Head of Sustainable Business, Alan Knight, said:

“We work closely with schools in our communities to inspire children from all backgrounds to study STEM subjects, so the next generation has the education and skills needed to support businesses like ours as we continue to develop and grow.

“Virtual Work Experience builds on the work we did during lockdown to provide laptops, free internet access and virtual tours of the power station to ensure no students were left behind in their studies.”

Department of Education Minister for Apprenticeships and Skills, Gillian Keegan said:

“It’s brilliant to see businesses like Drax offering virtual opportunities for young people to learn about and prepare for the world of work.

“As the energy market is changing there are new green jobs opening up for employees. Offering young people the chance to explore these new opportunities in the workplace is vital to shape their career goals, and help them to discover the wide range of choices available for their future.”

Students who applied to take part in Drax’s virtual work experience programme aged 14-18 could choose from four different business streams: Engineering, Business Support, IT & Project Management and Finance. They will learn about the energy company, focusing on developing employability skills and learning about their business area through conversations with employees and targeted projects. They will also have the opportunity to ask members of Drax’s executive committee about their careers during a Q&A session.

This year’s Covid lockdown resulted in many students being home schooled for months, so the Drax virtual work experience programme is taking place during the Summer Holidays, so that participants do not miss any more vital classroom time during the school term.

ENDS

Media contacts:

Ben Wicks

Media Manager

E: [email protected]

T: 07761525662

 

Megan Hopgood

Media and PR Intern

E: [email protected]

T: 07936350175

 

Editor’s Notes

Now that Covid restrictions have eased, Drax intends to resume its usual work experience programme on site, but it will continue to host a virtual programme online as well.

Drax announced its Mobilising a Million initiative earlier this year, when it published its Opportunity Action Plan in partnership with the Social Mobility Pledge led by former Education Secretary, the Rt Hon Justine Greening.

Drax is committed to supporting the communities local to its operations. It has invested more than £840,000 to support its customers and local communities during the Covid-19 crisis including donating over 1,200 laptops to schools and colleges across the country, helping to make sure children without access to computers or the internet at home, were not left behind in their studies during the Covid crisis.

About Drax

Drax Group’s purpose is to enable a zero carbon, lower cost energy future and in 2019 announced a world-leading ambition to be carbon negative by 2030, using Bioenergy with Carbon Capture and Storage (BECCS) technology.

Its 3,400 employees operate across three principal areas of activity – electricity generation, electricity sales to business customers and compressed wood pellet production and supply to third parties.

Power generation:

Drax owns and operates a portfolio of renewable electricity generation assets in England and Scotland. The assets include the UK’s largest power station, based at Selby, North Yorkshire, which supplies five percent of the country’s electricity needs.

Having converted Drax Power Station to use sustainable biomass instead of coal it has become the UK’s biggest renewable power generator and the largest decarbonisation project in Europe. It is also where Drax is piloting the groundbreaking negative emissions technology BECCS within its CCUS (Carbon Capture Utilisation and Storage) Incubation Area.

Its pumped storage, hydro and energy from waste assets in Scotland include Cruachan Power Station – a flexible pumped storage facility within the hollowed-out mountain Ben Cruachan.

Pellet production and supply:
Drax owns and has interests in 17 pellet mills in the US South and Western Canada which have the capacity to manufacture 4.9 million tonnes of compressed wood pellets (biomass) a year. The pellets are produced using materials sourced from sustainably managed working forests and are supplied to third party customers in Europe and Asia for the generation of renewable power.

Drax’s pellet mills supply around 30% of the biomass used at its own power station in North Yorkshire, England to generate flexible, renewable power for the UK’s homes and businesses.

Customers: 

Through its two B2B energy supply brands, Haven Power and Opus Energy, Drax supplies energy to 250,000 businesses across Britain.

For more information visit www.drax.com